The setting of Eleanor H. Porter's beloved children's book has been changed from early 20th-century Vermont to Edwardian England in this British production, but that's just fine: the trademark indefatigable cheerfulness of its young heroine remains intact. When the newly-orphaned Pollyanna (delightful newcomer Georgina Terry) goes to live with her dour aunt Polly (Amanda Burton), she can't help but brighten the lives of those around her, from the shy handyman secretly in love with the housemaid to her lonely auntie, and even though Pollyanna remains relentlessly chipper (even in the face of tragedy), the film never descends into mawkishness or annoying sentimentality. This lovely Masterpiece Theatre entry is, in fact, an absolute treat for the whole family, particularly in today's entertainment environment, which tends to be woefully bereft of stories about spunky little girls. Recommended. (M. Johanson)
Pollyanna
WGBH, 100 min., not rated, VHS or DVD: $19.95, Nov. 23 Volume 20, Issue 1
Pollyanna
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
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